iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Frank Smith

Acid Rain @bearysweet.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

"Reading literature enables you to enter the depths of another human being." Han Kang recd. the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2024 for her "intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life." 1st Asian woman to win this prestigious literary award. #books

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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

9/11 victim Michael Massaroli’s son: "You do my dad's legacy & the legacy of all victims no honor using this tragedy to spread hate. I've had to spend 25 years seeing people use it to hate on our Muslim brothers & sisters, people who don't look like them."

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

#booksky Colm Tóibín and Doireann Ní Ghríofa at Borris @writingandideas.bsky.social Photo by me

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Excellent summary of what is happening

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Picking 10 fav books, is hard but here's a list, not in order, I can live with at the moment.(Some cheating) Ulysses 100 Years of Solitude George Smiley trilogy Septology Amongst Women The Secret History A Long Long Way Cloud Atlas The Sportswriter American Pastoral #booksky #theguardian

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

The Power of Light What a great event in @thedockarts for the 20th anniversary of the death of John McGahern With @sineadgleeson.bsky.social @mylesdungan.bsky.social ,wonderful reading by Jane Brennan ,chaired by Vincent Woods,presented by the Iron Mountain Literature Festival #booksky

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

@hollycairns.bsky.social and @paulmurphy.pbp.ie again doing their best to convince me why they should never be in government. "Opposition unimpressed by Taoiseach’s failure to ‘call out’ US president" www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

irishtimes.com

Opposition unimpressed by Taoiseach’s failure to ‘call out’ US president

Irish reaction: A ‘missed opportunity’ to confront Trump over ‘bellicose’ foreign policy

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

The great Irish writers, John McGahern, died on March 31st 2006. I showed some stuff I had boxed away to our local librarian in Portarlington, County Laois, and she decided to make a display, and track down all his books. #booksky

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Saw the movie One Battle After Another. Could have been watching an extended documentary about US today. #minnesota #ICE

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

Joachim Trier's Sentimental Value definitely up there with the best movies. Loved it. Stellan Starsgard is magnificent, as are the actors playing his two daughters. 5 stars.

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 01/01/2026

The wonderful Turner exhibition is open at the @nationalgalleryirl.bsky.social My annual look at where Sherlock Holmes met his end ...or did he?

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John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Here is my Personal Anthology of twelve short stories, including Bruce calling from Mulholland, a daughter leaving for Rhodesia, a washed-up hack in Hollywood (by a washed-up hack in Hollywood) and a story from the Dubliners of 20C Jewish-American life. Ta @jonathangibbs.bsky.social for asking me.

apersonalanthology.substack.com

A Personal Anthology, by John Self

At first I thought of choosing the shortest stories I could, and some of those remain in the list below, but in the end I broadened my thinking as some stories kept pushing their way in.

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Led By Donkeys @ledbydonkeys.org · 27/10/2025

Farage: epic grifter

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Lux 🌸 Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 08/10/2025

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

The old L&H has lost its mojo Students ain't what they used to be. What a crowd of eejits. John Boyne ‘disappointed’ at withdrawal of UCD James Joyce award www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025...

irishtimes.com

John Boyne ‘disappointed’ at withdrawal of UCD James Joyce award

Literary and Historical Society planned to honour ‘one of Ireland’s most celebrated and courageous literary voices’

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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 03/09/2025

Nigel Farage looks uncomfortable as Jamie Raskin uses his opening statement to absolutely demolish him

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

For the weekend that's in it, a throwback to @writingandideas.bsky.social 2023 when Jeremy Irons and Sinead Cusack brought the house down with their readings of Molly and Leopold Bloom from #Ulysses Photo by me #Borris #booksky #ulysses #leopoldbloom #mollybloom #Bloomsday

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

On his first visit to @writingandideas.bsky.social James Rebanks brought us to the islands off Norway for a profound meditation on slow living and closeness to nature in his wonderful book The Place of Tides Photo by me @herdyshepherd.bsky.social #booksky #ThePlaceOfTides #eiderduck #eider

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Looking forward to being back taking photos at @writingandideas.bsky.social in Borris in June. Here are some photos from last year. All photos by me. #booksky #TomHolland @katherinerundell.bsky.social #SimonArmitage #PoetLaureate #OceanVuong

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iWillVote.com Pollock ➡️ turn 🔔 on @willpollock.com · 08/05/2025

staffers are still cleaning up the Kristi Noem mess after she got gutted/filleted by @chrismurphyct.bsky.social this is A MOMENT. #MustWatch 🧢 @trumpfile.org

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WuTangIsForTheChildren @wutangforchildren.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Wasn’t expecting that….love it 🔥….the kids are alright!

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 05/04/2025

@skynewsrss.bsky.social not holding back on praise for the amazing Mullins win in the # GrandNational

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

"When all the books are gone...."

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

@herdyshepherd.bsky.social just read your beautiful article in The Plough. English Pastoral one of my favourite books in recent years. Looking forward to meeting you at Borris @writingandideas.bsky.social

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Thomas Hansen @thomashansen.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

The former ambassador to Denmark for the United States, Rufus Gifford, posted this video on his Facebook account: Ht: @hpsc24.bsky.social

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 08/03/2025

At Ennis courthouse @ronanhession.bsky.social to see @ronanhession.bsky.social being cross-examined by @neilhegarty.bsky.social about his wonderful book Ghost Mountain, and an interesting discussion about fiction in Translation #ennisbookclubfestival #booksky

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Frank Smith @franksmith56.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

What a great evening in the company of the great Colum McCann launching his new novel #Twist in the @peppercanisterchurch Dublin - a great interview with @alexclarkpresents and wonderful music by @colmmacconiomaire #Borris @writingandideas.bsky.social #booksky Photos by me

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